CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 247
QUESTION FROM MR. CALENDAR, KANAGAWA PROVINCE
Sensei, I have a question. Is it just me or is Gin-san’s wavy hair a little different from Mr. Sakamoto’s? Maybe I’m wrong, but could you show me how you draw it, please?
ANSWER:
Gin-san’s hair is shorter and unruly. You can see the raised ends of all the strands.
Sakamoto’s is a bit longer and the unruly locks are mixed with the more disciplined ones, so his hair is more rounded overall.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 248
QUESTION FROM MR. “KATSURA AND HIJIKATA ARE TRUE IDOLS!”
Hello, Sorachi sensei. Right now Utsuro is attacking Edo, but what’s the situation in the rest of the world? Are other countries being attacked as well? I need to know! Please answer me, super genius Sorachi sensei!
ANSWER:
To keep the plot from getting too complicated, I’ve cut out this bit of history, but yes, other countries are also struggling mightily. In America, for example, President Othello is harshly attacking the Liberation Army on Twitter.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 249
QUESTION FROM MISS “I WOULD LIKE TO BECOME SORACHI SENSEI’S WIFE”, NAGASAKI PROVINCE
I’m a lackluster seventh grader, but I really want to become a mangaka like you, Sorachi sensei! Studying is not my forte, I don’t like it, it’s just a waste of time since I’d rather dedicate myself exclusively to manga and drawing. Do you think that even people who don’t like studying can become successful mangaka, or will their works always be uninteresting?
ANSWER:
Since I made it, no matter how unintelligent you are, you’ll manage somehow. However, even if you make an interesting manga, there is a risk that it will be clear afterwards that you are superficial and your career will be very short. That’s why it’s better to keep studying, and I’m still doing that. Ever since I became a mangaka, my curiosity has been growing, and it’s practically spontaneous for me to delve into all sorts of things that can help me invent new stories. But there’s nothing to admire in that, since it’s a natural process. It’s what lies beyond that is important! It is to be appreciated that you have had a goal since middle school, but if you restrict your interests to this field alone you risk becoming a person and an artist without content. At your age you should take advantage of your time to expand your interests and study, so that you arrive well “armed” at adulthood. All the more so if you want to achieve your goal, you will need to acquire a great deal of tenacity to be able to endure the hard life of a mangaka.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 250
SECOND QUESTION FROM MR. CALENDAR OF KANAGAWA PROVINCE
In the scene where Kamui saves Takasugi, in the 572nd lesson, how did it really happen? Was it something like “Boss, a girl is falling from the sky”? Let me know!
ANSWER:
It was more of a Kiki’s Delivery Service style situation.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 251
QUESTION FROM MR. KAMIRA
Good morning, Sorachi sensei. I’m 18 years old, but I’m still in the middle of my rebellious period. In my heart, I want to get along with my parents, but when they talk to me, I’m ashamed to be honest even with myself, so I end up behaving badly. How can I overcome my rebellious period?
ANSWER:
From the moment you feel you want to come out of it, you are no longer as much of a rebel as you think. You’ve entered the Vegeta period, the one in which you try to keep up appearances by openly declaring, “Kakarot, I always aim to take your head anyway. That’s because, if you were a rebel until recently, you can’t suddenly change your attitude towards your parents, otherwise you’ll lose face. It’s a really bad time, but once you’re through it, the hellish time will come when you’ll even start rapping: “Kakarot, thank you for everything, you’re the pride (Hokori) of the Saiyans, but I’m just dust (Hokori). One day I will sweep away all the dust…”. But that doesn’t mean that you have managed to become honest with yourself. This is a crucial stage. Only if you get through it will you be able to talk calmly with Bulma and figure out how to distance yourself from Yamcha. So take it easy, take it one step at a time, and if there’s anything you can do, it’s learn how to rap.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 252
QUESTION FROM MR. “GINTAMA LIVE ACTION IS AWESOME!”, YAMAGUCHI PROVINCE
When you eat Otae’s dark matter (omelette), besides stomachache, memory loss, and weakened eyesight, do you experience any other symptoms?
ANSWER:
Subsequently the command screen turns brown. Even sprinkling with holy water does not cure it.
CONTACT WITH THE READERS: QUESTION CORNER 253
QUESTION FROM MR. “MAY THE FUTURE BE ETERNAL! FAREWELL TO THE SIX-YEAR-LONG CONCLUSION SAGA!”, FROM GIFU PROVINCE
Recently, a lot of computer-drawn manga have been coming out, even though it’s easier to make them by hand. Can you confirm this for me? Have you ever thought of going digital?
ANSWER:
I draw exclusively by hand, but not because I care so much. I simply try to use as few tools as possible. If I got used to using particular aids, I’d find it hard to work without them. A lazy person like me, if by chance he loses his pen for drawing on the computer, might decide to go on strike for a whole day. The computer would give me excuses not to work, so I prefer not to take that risk and just use sheets of paper as a support. It’s true that the assistants would have much less trouble inserting screens and making backgrounds on the computer, so maybe for them I could make an excep-… Damn it! My pen’s ink is running out, so I’m done for the day.
New topic: “Then he never came back.”
Yorozuya Shinigami 